Download Ancient Mesopotamia (FOH 10)

FOH 10, Ancient Mesopotamia
Name:
1. What does the name “Mesopotamia” mean? What language does this come from?
Why is this name appropriate for this region?
2. In ancient times, what did people living in this part of the world call it?
What other names or terms do Podony and McGee use to describe this area?
Where would you go today to look for ruins of this ancient civilization?
3. What should we know about the climate and geography of ancient Mesopotamia?
Be sure to explain the significance of each characteristic.
4. What does Mr. Butler mean by “geopolitics”?
5. Using colored pencils or highlighters, mark the following features on the map that
follows the reading in FOH 10.
bodies of water: Euphrates and Tigris Rivers; the Persian Gulf, the Mediterranean Sea
regions: Sumer, Akkad, Babylonia, Assyria
city-states: Ur, Nippur, Babylon
--> You should be able to identify these features on a blank map.
6. Make a list of the various groups of people living in ancient Mesopotamia (during
different historical periods), as mentioned in our sources.
- Try to list them in order of their appearance in the history of this region.
- Can you relate any of these groups to places on your map of Mesopotamia?
- Were they settled or nomadic peoples? Put an asterisk (*) next to settled peoples.
- What language(s) did they speak? Were those languages related to any others?
7. Define each of these terms. Find examples of each from the reading.
definition
examples
city-state
civilization
empire
dynasty
How is an empire different from a civilization?
How is an empire different from a city-state?
8. Pick one of the major empires described in FOH 10. Complete the table with relevant
details, including the approximate timeframe. Follow the example provided.
name of
empire
and approx.
timeframe
Akkadian
(c. 2350 - 2250
BCE)
how / by whom it
was established
how it was
maintained
what led to its
downfall
While Sumerians
were busy fighting
each other for control
of holy city of
Nippur, Sargon and
other speakers of
Akkadian (nomads
from the north)
gradually infiltrated
the city-states of
Sumer. Once they
understood how
civilization worked,
they killed the king
and seized control.
Sargon appointed
governors and
deployed garrisons to
keep the peace in the
cities under his
control. (Subject cities
would have to pay
tribute -- or some part
of local surplus -- to
stay in good favor.) If
cities rebelled, he
would have their
protective walls torn
down and take
hostages (to scare
them into obedience).
Sargon extended his
reach and proclaimed
himself "King of the
Four Quarters" (of the
known world).
Sargon's grandson,
Naramsin, made the
mistake of looting
and desecrating
Nippur. This angered
the native Sumerians
(who spoke another
language, and had
their own gods and
cultural practices).
They revolted and the
Akkadians began to
lose control. Nomads
(the Gutians) took
advantage of this
situation and invaded,
destroying Agade, the
capital, and bringing
an end to the empire.
Babylonian
First Assyrian
Second
Assyrian
NeoBabylonian
9. Be sure you can define key terms that recur in these histories of empire-building:
governor
garrison
mercenary
public works projects
tribute
Other terms that are new to you?
10. What other power(s) from outside this region eventually took over ancient
Mesopotamia? When did this happen?